A memorable victory for Melbourne Victory. Juan Mata’s side defeated Sydney FC 4–0 in a standout performance from the Asturian midfielder, who provided three assists. Mata now has seven assists this season in the Australian league, more than any other player in the competition.
The match turned into a true celebration at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, where the home fans enjoyed a dream second half. Melbourne Victory dominated the first half but were unable to find the net, with the only goal ruled out coming from Davidson in the 17th minute. Juan Mata’s team continued to push after the break, and the reward came in the form of four goals, scored by Santos (two), Jelacic and Lachlan. Juan was the provider for three of them, the last from a corner kick.
An El Mago 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 in the Big Blue 🇪🇸🪄 Juan Mata is rolling back the years at @gomvfc!
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) January 26, 2026
Three asists tonight.
Seven for the season.
What a performance.
What a player. pic.twitter.com/TLwi6Tuahj
The performance made headlines around the world. “Mata masterclass: the Spanish superstar shines with three assists,” read the official website of the competition. Marca highlighted that the last time Mata provided three assists in a single match, he was still wearing the Valencia shirt — in a victory against Deportivo 18 years ago.
“It was probably our best performance,” Juan said after the match in a flash interview with Paramount. “I’m happy and very proud of the team. We showed that we can beat anyone.”
